The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

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Upcoming Programs At GLSP

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Grafton Lakes State Park’s Beach Nature Center is open 12 to 2 pm daily through Labor Day. Come visit some local critters, explore animal tracks and look at our nature artifacts.

August 30, Saturday – Gentle Fresh Air Yoga with Kat Abrams from 9:30 to 10:30 am. This is the last class of the summer. The cost is $12. For more information, call Kat at 233-1717.

August 30, Saturday – Dance in the Park for Summer’s Last Swing, 5 to 10 pm at GLSP. Enjoy live swing music with the Nisky Dixie Cats and dance lessons under the Park’s big sky. Call Laura Sears at 279-1155 for details.

September 1, Monday – Last Day of Swimming for the Summer and the Labor Day Sand Sculpture Contest at GLSP. Registration is at 12 pm, judging at 3 pm. Sign up is free. There will be prizes for all participants, but extra points will be awarded for originality. Join us on Long Pond beach.

September 6, Saturday – Tom Conklin Dedication Ceremony at Grafton Lakes State Park – Grand Opening of Conklin Pass, our new trail and the Conklin Program Tent. The ceremony will be followed by a barbecue and live music from 12 to 4 pm.

September 6, Saturday – International “Observe the Moon” Night. Join people all over the world in looking up at our nearest neighbor, the moon. Bring your binoculars if you have them and come enjoy the glow.

September 13, Saturday – If These Rocks Could Talk Geology Tour with David DeSimone at 10 am at GLSP. Grafton’s original name was Roxborough. Come find out why in a tale that goes back over 500 million years. Pre-register by calling 279-1155.

September 14, Sunday – Love the Lakes Shoreline Cleanup Day from 1 to 3 pm at GLSP. Along with thousands of volunteers worldwide, join in a shoreline cleanup effort sponsored through the Ocean Conservancy and American Littoral Society. Collect data as you go that aids in litter prevention campaigns. Scout troops are welcome. Pre-register at 279-1155.

September 19, Friday – Star Watch at 7:30 pm ay GLSP. Enjoy a free tour of the night sky with the Albany Area Astronomers. call Bernard at 658-9144 to confirm as cloudy skies may cancel. The rain date is Saturday September 20 at 7:30 pm. Please use the Winter Entrance and follow signs to the program.

September 20, Saturday – Pets in the Park from 11 am to 2 pm at Deerfield pavilion at GLSP.

Bring your four-legged friends for a day of pet friendly fun an adoption clinic, vendors, agility course, a costume contest and more. Call for a detailed schedule of events. There will be a Nature Hike at 10 am.

September 27, Saturday – Fall Foliage Hike to the Fire Tower at 10:30 am at GLSP. Pack a lunch and join us for a three mile round trip hike to the Dickinson Hill Fire Tower. We’ll break for lunch and a view before returning around 1 pm. Please call to pre-register at 279-1155. This hike is part of the region-wide Hudson River Ramble.

For more information check www.nysparks.com.

Kathryn Jepson

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Buskirk – The unforgettable Kathryn Francis Riley Jepson of Buskirk, NY, passed away peacefully at her home on August 22, 2014, the day before her 70th birthday. She was surrounded by loved ones.

Among countless other things, Kate will be remembered for her unwavering strength, sense of humor and passion for life. She was the definition of feisty, often giving her family and nurses a run for their money and always proving to others that she could do what was considered impossible. Kate was a life-long jokester with an infectious laugh, witty remarks and naughty ways. She had a love affair with chocolate pie and could be found enjoying a piece at any time of the day. She enjoyed being on the go, word finds, casinos, hot showers and making jewelry with her girls. Her playful goosing, sweet kisses and hidden candy stash will be greatly missed.

To know Kate was a gift. A loving mother and doting grandmother, she was immensely proud of her family. She devoted her life to the care of others including her parents, her husband Ross, her children and grandchildren. Kate made many sacrifices throughout her life for her family. Nothing brought her more joy than seeing those that she loved happy.

Kate is pre-deceased by her husband of 45 years, Ross Edward Jepson Sr. Her memory will live on through her five children, Sheri Weber with Dennis Fisher, Deborah Best and husband Michael Best, Gail Guile and husband James, Brenda Shortt and husband Rick Shortt and Ross Jepson Jr. and wife Bobbie Jo, eleven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, three siblings, Patricia Bishop, Nancy Eaton and Frank Valentine, many nieces and nephews and her K-9 Companion, Dozie.

Arrangements are by the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street, Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090. A private funeral service will be held for immediate family. The family asks that anyone wishing to make a donation in Kate’s honor donate, through the Funeral Home, to the Community Hospice of Rensselaer County, who provided Kate with the best of care.

Robert Marsh

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Hoosick Falls – Robert (Bob) Marsh, 78, passed away at home in the care of his family on Thursday, August 21, 2014. Bob was born to Oscar and Marjorie (Winton) Marsh in Hoosick Falls, NY, in 1936.

Bob served with the U.S. Air Force for four years. He was a member of the Taconic Pipe Band for many years. He was employed as a lab supervisor at Warren General Hospital, Warren, OH, for several years, then at North Adams Regional Hospital in North Adams, MA, retiring in 1996.

In addition to Pat, his wife of 54 years, Bob is survived by his daughter, Lorene and husband Tom Vince, his sons, Robert F. Marsh, Shawn E. Marsh and Christian and wife Suzanne Marsh, his grandchildren, Gabriel and Kaelyn Vince, Jake and Sarah Marsh and Grady Marsh, his sister, Ann Blair, and nieces, Patrcia Kwok and Nancy Blair, as well as his extended family. He is pre-deceased by his brother in law, Edward Blair.

Funeral services were held from the Immaculate Conception Church in Hoosick Falls on Tuesday, August 26, at 10 am. Relatives and friends called at the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street, Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090, on Monday evening from 6 to 8 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the Second Chance Animal Shelter or the Town of Hoosick Rescue Squad through the funeral home.

Deuneece H. Sandbeck

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Berlin – Deuneece H. Sandbeck, age 58, of Aitkin, Minnesota, died Wednesday, August 20, 2014, at the Cuyuna Regional Care Center in Crosby, MN.

Born February 11, 1956, in Albany, NY, Deuneece was the daughter of Wesley C. and Betty (Vincent) Huff. She grew up and attended schools in Berlin, NY. She then joined the National Guard; her unit was activated during the Gulf War. She attended Hudson Valley Community College and received her R.N. Degree. She had worked as a nurse in Bennington, VT, for ten years. She moved to Aitkin in 1991 and worked for the Riverwood Health Care Center as a nurse. She married Mike Sandbeck on December 11, 1992, in Aitkin and has lived there since. She enjoyed horses and gardening.

Deuneece is survived by her husband, Mike Sandbeck of Aitkin, her children, Joshua Kirkpatrick of Oregon and Sarah Kirkpatrick of Duluth, MN, her grandchildren, Brittany Hannah, Kaylin Kirkpatrick, Freyja Kirkpatrick, Felany Kirkpatrick and Xander Kirkpatrick, and two great-grandchildren, Dayle and Lilly. She is preceded in death by her parents.

A memorial service was held Tuesday, August 26, at 3 pm from the Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home with Rev. Barry Hite officiating. Visitation was one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Arrangements are by the Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home in Aitkin.

66 Units of Blood Collected At HFCAC

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submitted by Gail Smith

Saturday, August 9, was a banner day for blood donations at the Hoosick Falls Community Alliance Church. With 40+ appointments, including nine double-reds, and over 20 walk-ins, we ended up with 66 presenting donors.

We want to thank Mollie Henry for helping sponsor the drive for H.F.C.S., for helping make phone calls and for manning the canteen. For the school to receive scholarship money, we had to collect 40 units, and because we were over that mark, H.F.C.S. will receive additional funds. At this point, we don’t know how much.

We so appreciate everyone who came out to donate. It was a beautiful summer day, and you could have been elsewhere, but you chose to stop in and make a difference. Your sacrifice of time and one pint of blood could save up to three lives. Many walk-ins chose to stay even though they knew there could be a considerable wait. Many of you donated in memory of, or in honor of, a loved one. One of our die hard double-red donors took the day off from work so he could give, and someone else celebrated her birthday with us. We had quite a few student donors. It was great to see teens donating right alongside our Senior Citizens. We were pleased to have several first time donors, including my father who is almost 78 years old (and I didn’t even have to twist his arm)! There is a minimum age, but there is no maximum age, as long as you meet standard eligibility requirements. All of these things were so encouraging. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts (no pun intended)!

Thanks also to Weeb’s for donating the doughnut holes for the canteen. The Red Cross saved a lot on snacks that day because everyone loved the doughnuts; but they did give all donors T-shirts and ice cream coupons, so I guess it evens out… Thank you Red Cross workers, for what you do. You were all great!

With 319 units collected so far in 2014 (that’s up to 1,000 lives saved, folks), we’re closing the gap on the 500 unit goal Hoosick has Heart has set for the year. With two community, one school and one business drive left, we’re going to close that gap and keep the momentum going with the next drive at Hoosick Falls Baptist Church, Main Street, on Friday, October 10, from 1 to 6 pm. Mark your calendar, then call and make your appointment at 1-800-RED-CROSS.

The Life Of George Holcomb – Keeping The Cows & Sheep In The Pasture

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Monday, July 30: Today we mowed on my Rodgers farm.  John Dean helped towards his month work for house rent. This day I learned that E. Pierce had driven eighteen of my sheep into the highway. Said sheep got out of my lot over his unlawfully brush fence. I sent word to him to look up my sheep or he would have trouble.

Wednesday, August 1: We hayed, said Chapman and Dean worked towards their rents. This morning said Pierce came and told me he had found some sheep but would not tell me they were the same ones that he turned out his lot. He accused me of crowding up on him and denied of my sheep getting over his line fence. I told him he was a liar in a vulgar abrupt way after he accused me falsely. I went and drove my sheep home from his yard, all but two he did not find.  I took my hired men and marked 29 of my sheep smooth crop off the right ear, a slit in the upper side the same.

Wednesday, August 8: Tonight I turned out our cows to come home. I found out two were missing. I ranged the fields quite late before I found them which was in my own pasture. Said Chapman helped.

Monday, August 13: We hayed. Said John Dean works towards his rent. Tonight Mother Holcomb went with brother Wm on a visit.  On this day Mr. Ebenezer Merrit died of a kick of a horse by the fills broken and wagons running on to the horse.

Wednesday: This afternoon I took a grist of rye and carried to H. Platt’s mill and left. Brother Wm went with me and we went to Squ Nathan Howard’s post office. Brother Wm had business to see about writing on to Washington to get the Hoosic mail to carry. Brother Wm set a shoe for me and mended three of my trace chains while I walked up to Caleb Jolls’ and I was told that they had two stray sheep. Quite rainy and a thunder shower this evening.

Thursday, August 16: Mr. Caleb Jolls sent word that he had got those two stray sheep down to his house and I took the single wagon and went and got them, which makes up my stray sheep that E. Pierce had turned into the highway.

Saturday August 25, 1832: We hayed. Mr. Amos Chapman helped with a hand, I Newton towards his rent and Joseph Simpson helped towards his rent. Tonight my wife and two of my children stayed to I. Newton’s. They went after two of my cows that did not come home with the rest.

Battle For Bennington At Walloomsac

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by Bea Peterson

History came to life in Walloomsac on Saturday and Sunday, August 16 and 17, as re-enactors camped and fought to relive the Revolutionary war battles that took place on those very grounds 237 years ago.

Hundred of visitors wandered through the campsite near the Barnett House on Caretakers Road that housed the many soldiers and their families over the weekend. The re-enactors were only too happy to describe their tasks such as map reading, firearms care, cooking, clothes washing, yarn spinning, games and much more. An exhibit of the story of the battle was on display as well.

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Berlin Town Board Action – Friction

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by Kieron Kramer

District #2 Water District Supervisor Jim Winn received a letter from Sandi Slattery, Chair of the Berlin Board of Fire Commissioners, that prompted Winn to say that he was misrepresented in the report of the June Town Board meeting that appeared in this newspaper. Slattery’s letter says, “It has come to the attention of the Berlin Volunteer Fire Department through articles published in the Eastwick Press that Water District #2 will assume responsibility for testing fire hydrants.

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